Meets with CM; says committee report ‘ready’
Dimapur, May 28 (EMN): The Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) has repeated its demand to the government of Nagaland to ‘implement’ the Nagaland Lokayukta mechanism in the state. The anti-corruption platform took strong exception that the government “did not deem it fit” to pass the anti-corruption bill in the state assembly ‘despite the numerous available opportunities.’
The ACAUT issued to the media on Saturday a copy of a representation addressed to the chief minister of Nagaland.
The organisation stated “that a statesman of your stature has taken the reins of the state is an assurance to the beleaguered people groaning under the weight of corruption and mis-governance (sic) that good leadership will prevail, and therefore the ACAUT Nagaland requests that, as time now permits, you institute the Lokayukta in the state of Nagaland.”
The ACAUT had been insisting on such an anti-corruption mechanism since 2014. ‘During the tenure of your predecessor, a standing committee on Lokayukta headed by Levi Rengma, parliamentary secretary, was formed in 2015, and yet the government of the day did not deem it fit to pass the anti-corruption bill in the state assembly despite the numerous available opportunities.’
The introduction of this bill will be historic and transformative, the ACAUT stated, in tune with Christian ethos. The ACAUT appealed “to your wisdom and impresses upon your sense of consciousness to help in building institutional mechanisms” through which the Naga nation is “eventually structured upon merit, hard work and dedication, as advocated by our ancestors and the Lokayukta is but means to such an end.”
The ACAUT added that it, along with the rest of the Naga people, anticipates that this very crucial piece of legislation would be passed during the Monsoon Session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
ACAUT meets with chief minister
Additional informed from the organisation informed on Sunday informed that the members of the ACAUT met with the chief minister following an invitation from him.
A team of the ACAUT along with its consultative member Niketu Iralu met with Chief Minister Dr. Shuruzolie Liezietsu “upon his invitation” on May 26 at his office, the information said. The team submitted the petition demanding implementation of the Lokayukta Bill during the Monsoon Session of the state legislative assembly.
“ACAUT Nagaland is of the opinion that the time period of standing committee is only 6 months, extendable by 6 months at a time and since its term had expired, the Chief Minister Shurhozelie Liezietsu revived it and had asked the standing committee to submit its report within 6 months and since committee report is ready, ACAUT Nagaland sees no reason why it cannot be tabled in the month of July 2017,” the press release stated.
